NEW YORK, April 23, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Anavex Life Sciences Corp. ("Anavex" or the "Company") (OTCQX: AVXL) today announced that Christopher U. Missling, PhD, President and Chief Executive Officer, will present at the World Orphan Drug Congress on Thursday, April 23, 2015 at 11:10 a.m. ET at The Washington Hilton in Washington, DC. In a presentation titled "Potential applications of sigma-1 receptors in orphan indications," Dr. Missling will discuss the role of sigma-1 receptors in additional indications beyond Alzheimer's disease.
"Our Phase 2a trial of ANAVEX 2-73 and ANAVEX PLUS in Alzheimer's patients is well underway and we are on track to present initial data by Q3 2015. In parallel, we are able to expand our development of ANAVEX 2-73 into rare or orphan CNS diseases, which impact a small percentage of the population with significant unmet needs," said Dr. Missling. "These additional indications are consistent with the beneficial effects of ANAVEX 2-73 on cognitive improvement, protein misfolding, neuroprotection, calcium modulation and mitochondria dysfunction. Studying the impact of sigma-1 receptors on rare CNS diseases further supports our efforts to validate ANAVEX 2-73 as a potential platform drug for multiple neurodegenerative diseases beyond Alzheimer's."
New Epilepsy Data
On Friday, May 15, 2015 at 3:30 p.m. ET, Dr. Missling will present new preclinical epilepsy data to attendees of the Antiepileptic Drug Trials XIII Conference. The conference is taking place at the Turnberry Isle Miami Hotel in Aventura (North Miami Beach), Florida.
In February 2015, Anavex confirmed positive preclinical data for ANAVEX 2-73 for the potential treatment of epilepsy. The data demonstrates significant improvement in the reduction of seizures relative to three generations of epilepsy drugs currently on the market, as well as significant synergy with each of these drugs. ANAVEX 2-73 has successfully completed a Phase 1 human clinical trial, in which it was shown to be safe, and is currently in a Phase 2a clinical trial for Alzheimer's disease.
About Anavex Life Sciences Corp.
Anavex Life Sciences Corp. (OTCQX: AVXL) is a publicly traded biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the development of novel drug candidates to treat central nervous system (CNS) diseases, pain and various types of cancer. The Company's lead drug candidates, ANAVEX 2-73 and ANAVEX PLUS, the combination of ANAVEX 2-73 and donepezil (Aricept®), are currently being evaluated in a Phase 2a clinical trial for Alzheimer's disease. ANAVEX 2-73 is an orally available drug candidate that targets sigma-1 and muscarinic receptors and has successfully completed a Phase 1 study with a clean data profile. Preclinical studies demonstrate its potential to halt and/or reverse the course of Alzheimer's disease. The drug combination, ANAVEX PLUS, produced up to 80% greater reversal of memory loss in Alzheimer's disease models versus when the drugs were used individually. Recent positive preclinical data indicates that ANAVEX 2-73 also exhibits anticonvulsant, anti-amnesic, neuroprotective and anti-depressant properties, indicating its potential to treat additional CNS disorders, including epilepsy and others. Further information is available at www.anavex.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements in this press release that are not strictly historical in nature are forward-looking statements. These statements are only predictions based on current information and expectations and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Actual events or results may differ materially from those projected in any of such statements due to various factors, including the risks set forth in the Company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. All forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement and Anavex Life Sciences Corp. undertakes no obligation to revise or update this press release to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof.